NBA power rankings: Suns clinch top seed in West; Celtics, Bucks, 76ers chase Heat in East
* Through games played 3/24
1. Phoenix Suns (60-14)
Last week: 1
Chris Paul returned Thursday after missing 15 games with a right thumb avulsion fracture. Devin Booker marked the occasion by posting 49 points and 10 assists in a 140-130 victory over the Nuggets. With the win, the Suns clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and the best overall record in the NBA. Paul looked good in his return, scoring 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting with 13 assists. The Suns will have homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. They are 30-8 at home and 30-6 on the road with the best point differential in the league at +8.4.
2. Memphis Grizzlies (51-23)
Last week: 2
The Grizzlies shared some unfortunate news Thursday when coach Taylor Jenkins announced Ja Morant will be out at least two weeks with a knee injury, but even that didn’t slow their roll. The Grizzlies won their third in a row, beating the Pacers 133-103 behind 30 points from Desmond Bane. Morant will be reevaluated in two weeks. Memphis hopes he will be ready to return before the playoffs.
3. Golden State Warriors (48-25)
Last week: 4
Jordan Poole scored 30 points to help the Warriors pick up a 118-104 road win over the Heat on Wednesday with Steph Curry (foot), Draymond Green (back), Klay Thompson (Achilles), Andre Iguodala (back) and others out due to injuries and injury management. The Warriors are 2 ½ games behind the Grizzlies for the No. 2 seed in the West.
4. Miami Heat (47-26)
Last week: 3
Miami is coming off back-to-back losses to the 76ers and Warriors. Frustrations boiled over in a sideline confrontation involving coach Erik Spoelstra, Jimmy Butler and Udonis Haslem during Wednesday’s loss to Golden State. The Heat still holds the top spot in the Eastern Conference, but the lead has dwindled to one game.
5. Milwaukee Bucks (46-27)
Last week: 6
The Bucks have come on strong in the final leg of the season, winning four of five and 10 of their last 12 to move within one game of the Heat for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Giannis Antetokounmpo is building a strong case for MVP consideration.
6. Boston Celtics (46-28)
Last week: 8
The Celtics are 21-3 since Jan. 29 behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Their current five-game winning streak includes a 22-point win over the Warriors, a 20-point win over the Nuggets and a 28-point win over the Jazz.
7. Philadelphia 76ers (45-27)
Last week: 7
The 76ers have won four of five to get within 1 ½ games of the Heat for the No. 1 seed in the East. Tyrese Maxey scored 28 points in a win over Miami on Monday. Joel Embiid had 30 points in Wednesday’s win over the Lakers.
8. Utah Jazz (45-28)
Last week: 5
Donovan Mitchell is on a hot streak, but Utah is not. The Jazz has lost two in a row and six of its last 12. Mitchell scored 37 against the Celtics on Wednesday, but the Jazz lost by 28. He had 30 in Monday’s loss to the Nets.
9. Dallas Mavericks (45-28)
Last week: 10
Jalen Brunson scored 28 points in Wednesday’s win over the Rockets with Luka Doncic out due to right ankle soreness. The Mavericks will visit the Timberwolves on Friday before coming home for a big game against the Jazz on Sunday.
10. Denver Nuggets (43-31)
Last week: 9
The Nuggets are sixth in the West after losing three of four and five of their last eight during a tough stretch that included losses to the Warriors, Raptors, Cavaliers, Celtics and Suns. Nikola Jokic is still considered a top MVP candidate, but now the Nuggets are just one game ahead of the Timberwolves for the No. 6 seed in the West.
11. Chicago Bulls (42-31)
Last week: 11
The Bulls suffered a 126-109 loss to the Pelicans on Thursday despite 39 points from Zach LaVine. They have lost 10 of 13 to fall to fifth in the East, 3 ½ games behind the Celtics for the No. 4 seed.
12. Minnesota Timberwolves (42-32)
Last week: 12
The Timberwolves can still catch Denver for the No. 6 seed in the West, but they are coming off back-to-back losses to the Mavericks and Suns with tough games coming up against the Mavericks, Celtics, Raptors and Nuggets.
13. Toronto Raptors (41-32)
Last week: 14
Pascal Siakam scored 35 points to lead the Raptors to a huge win over the Cavaliers on Thursday, helping Toronto tie Cleveland for the No. 6 seed in the East. The Raptors have won seven of nine to close the gap.
14. Cleveland Cavaliers (41-32)
Last week: 13
The Cavaliers are in danger of falling into the play-in tournament after suffering back-to-back losses to the Lakers and Raptors. They have lost five of eight and 11 of their last 17.
15. Brooklyn Nets (38-35)
Last week: 16
An expanded vaccine exemption in New York City will make Kyrie Irving eligible to play in home games beginning Sunday when the Nets play host to the Hornets. In his last four games, Irving has scored 50, 22, 60 and 43 points.
16. Charlotte Hornets (37-36)
Last week: 18
Charlotte’s five-game winning streak ended with a 121-106 loss to the Knicks on Wednesday despite 32 points from LaMelo Ball, but the Hornets have a firm grip on a play-in spot.
17. Atlanta Hawks (36-37)
Last week: 17
Trae Young scored 45 points in Tuesday’s win over the Knicks. The Hawks have lost two of their last three, but they still have a five-game lead over the Knicks for the final play-in spot in the East.
18. Los Angeles Clippers (36-38)
Last week: 15
The Clippers have lost four in a row and five of six, but they appear to be a lock for the No. 8 spot in the West and Paul George participated in practice Thursday for the first time since suffering an elbow injury in December.
19. New York Knicks (31-42)
Last week: 20
R.J. Barrett scored 30 in a win over the Hornets on Wednesday, but the Knicks trail the Hawks by five games for the final play-in spot after losing 11 of 17.
20. Los Angeles Lakers (31-42)
Last week: 21
Russell Westbrook had 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, but that wasn’t enough in a 126-121 loss to the 76ers on Wednesday with LeBron James (knee) and Anthony Davis (foot) out due to injuries.
21. New Orleans Pelicans (31-42)
Last week: 22
The Pelicans picked up a big 126-109 victory over the Bulls on Thursday despite the absence of Brandon Ingram (hamstring). They are now tied with the Lakers for eighth in the West, two games ahead of the Spurs.
22. Washington Wizards (30-42)
Last week: 19
The Wizards are coming off back-to-back double-digit losses to the Rockets and Bucks. They have lost eight of nine to fall to 12th in the East, 5 ½ games behind the Hawks for the final play-in spot.
23. San Antonio Spurs (29-44)
Last week: 23
Josh Richardson and Dejounte Murray led the Spurs to back-to-back wins over the Warriors and Blazers, helping them stay within two games of the Pelicans for the final play-in spot in the West going into Saturday’s game in New Orleans.
24. Portland Trail Blazers (27-45)
Last week: 24
The Blazers beat the Pistons on Monday, but they have lost 11 of 13 to fall three games behind the Pelicans for the final play-in spot. The roster is so decimated, Brandon Williams and Ben McLemore led the team in scoring over the past two games.
25. Sacramento Kings (26-48)
Last week: 25
De’Aaron Fox (hand) and Domantas Sabonis (knee) are both out due to injuries and it’s not clear whether either will return to the lineup this season. The Kings are 5 ½ games behind the Pelicans for the final play-in spot with only eight games remaining.
26. Indiana Pacers (25-49)
Last week: 26
Buddy Hield scored 25 points on Wednesday and Lance Stephenson scored 25 on Thursday, but the Pacers, who have already been eliminated from playoff contention, suffered back-to-back losses to the Kings and Grizzlies.
27. Oklahoma City Thunder (21-52)
Last week: 27
Theo Maledon scored 25 points as the Thunder snapped a 10-game losing streak with a win over Orlando on Wednesday despite the absence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is day-to-day with a sore ankle.
28. Detroit Pistons (20-53)
Last week: 28
Jerami Grant and Cade Cunningham led Detroit to a 21-point win over Atlanta on Wednesday. Grant scored 40 in a loss to the Cavaliers on Saturday.
29. Orlando Magic (20-54)
Last week: 29
Orlando posted back-to-back wins over the Thunder and Warriors before suffering a 118-102 loss to Oklahoma City on Wednesday, a game in which the Magic shot just 38.7%.
30. Houston Rockets (18-55)
Last week: 30
Christian Wood scored 39 points in a win over the Wizards on Monday, but the Rockets have lost six of seven and 23 of their last 27.
